Nurse says I am stage 4 before PET scan results …..PLEASE HELP ME

Listen to your doctor and ignore the nurse.

She doesnt know what she is talking about.

In your situation with a microscopic amount found in one lymph node you are technically stage 3 but with a good prognosis.

I doubt you need to do anything other than wait and have regular ultrasounds to check any further lymph node involvment.

I wouldnt advise having any other nodes taken out but some people might disagree but the prognosis for people with micro mets in one node are the same as those who have clear SNBs.

THere are quite a few stuides on this if you want to take a look via google.

Listen to your doctor and ignore the nurse.

She doesnt know what she is talking about.

In your situation with a microscopic amount found in one lymph node you are technically stage 3 but with a good prognosis.

I doubt you need to do anything other than wait and have regular ultrasounds to check any further lymph node involvment.

I wouldnt advise having any other nodes taken out but some people might disagree but the prognosis for people with micro mets in one node are the same as those who have clear SNBs.

THere are quite a few stuides on this if you want to take a look via google.

Listen to your doctor and ignore the nurse.

She doesnt know what she is talking about.

In your situation with a microscopic amount found in one lymph node you are technically stage 3 but with a good prognosis.

I doubt you need to do anything other than wait and have regular ultrasounds to check any further lymph node involvment.

I wouldnt advise having any other nodes taken out but some people might disagree but the prognosis for people with micro mets in one node are the same as those who have clear SNBs.

THere are quite a few stuides on this if you want to take a look via google.

I was going to ask you what country you lived in, and then you mentioned Pittsburgh. All of this sounds very, very odd. I'd suggest you look for a new clinic for a second opinion. It would be totally worth it for your emotional (and physical) well-being.

I was going to ask you what country you lived in, and then you mentioned Pittsburgh. All of this sounds very, very odd. I'd suggest you look for a new clinic for a second opinion. It would be totally worth it for your emotional (and physical) well-being.

I was going to ask you what country you lived in, and then you mentioned Pittsburgh. All of this sounds very, very odd. I'd suggest you look for a new clinic for a second opinion. It would be totally worth it for your emotional (and physical) well-being.

Hi Rose ~ (a name I am most partial to, as it is my daughter's!!!)

Obviously I agree with what all posters have said!  Get yourself to a melanoma specialist!  And it sounds as though you are working on that.  Here are some reasons:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2013/02/got-melanoma-get-yourself-melanoma.html

You will probably, among many other things, need to talk to your melanoma oncologist about whether or not you should undergo complete lymph node removal of the area around the positive sentinel node.  That is clearly a personal question and one that is not without controversy.  Here is a report from a study that may interest you:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/02/lymph-node-removal-after-superficial.html

A few more articles if you are interested: 

One article demonstrating improved survival after lymphadenectomy:  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1310460

Complete lymphadenectomy is a complicated choice.  Here is a discussion of the pros and cons:  http://www.ascopost.com/issues/may-1,-2013/does-every-melanoma-patient-with-a-positive-sentinel-node-need-more-lymph-nodes-removed.aspx

I wish you and your my very best.  Celeste

Hi Rose ~ (a name I am most partial to, as it is my daughter's!!!)

Obviously I agree with what all posters have said!  Get yourself to a melanoma specialist!  And it sounds as though you are working on that.  Here are some reasons:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2013/02/got-melanoma-get-yourself-melanoma.html

You will probably, among many other things, need to talk to your melanoma oncologist about whether or not you should undergo complete lymph node removal of the area around the positive sentinel node.  That is clearly a personal question and one that is not without controversy.  Here is a report from a study that may interest you:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/02/lymph-node-removal-after-superficial.html

A few more articles if you are interested: 

One article demonstrating improved survival after lymphadenectomy:  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1310460

Complete lymphadenectomy is a complicated choice.  Here is a discussion of the pros and cons:  http://www.ascopost.com/issues/may-1,-2013/does-every-melanoma-patient-with-a-positive-sentinel-node-need-more-lymph-nodes-removed.aspx

I wish you and your my very best.  Celeste

Hi Rose ~ (a name I am most partial to, as it is my daughter's!!!)

Obviously I agree with what all posters have said!  Get yourself to a melanoma specialist!  And it sounds as though you are working on that.  Here are some reasons:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2013/02/got-melanoma-get-yourself-melanoma.html

You will probably, among many other things, need to talk to your melanoma oncologist about whether or not you should undergo complete lymph node removal of the area around the positive sentinel node.  That is clearly a personal question and one that is not without controversy.  Here is a report from a study that may interest you:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2014/02/lymph-node-removal-after-superficial.html

A few more articles if you are interested: 

One article demonstrating improved survival after lymphadenectomy:  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1310460

Complete lymphadenectomy is a complicated choice.  Here is a discussion of the pros and cons:  http://www.ascopost.com/issues/may-1,-2013/does-every-melanoma-patient-with-a-positive-sentinel-node-need-more-lymph-nodes-removed.aspx

I wish you and your my very best.  Celeste

Hi Rose, sorry about your diagnosis.  Just wanted to answer you because I also had a melanoma on my thigh. Stage 1b until they found Micromets in my sentinel node….now stage 3a.  I elected for the inguinal pad of nodes to be removed and they were all clear.  With a clear PET and Micromets in sentinal….that's 3a.  I understand about your anxiety because I also had it that bad after my initial dx.  Things have calmed down but still get anxious around scan times.  Good luck with whatever else you decide to do!

Hi Rose, sorry about your diagnosis.  Just wanted to answer you because I also had a melanoma on my thigh. Stage 1b until they found Micromets in my sentinel node….now stage 3a.  I elected for the inguinal pad of nodes to be removed and they were all clear.  With a clear PET and Micromets in sentinal….that's 3a.  I understand about your anxiety because I also had it that bad after my initial dx.  Things have calmed down but still get anxious around scan times.  Good luck with whatever else you decide to do!

Hi Rose, sorry about your diagnosis.  Just wanted to answer you because I also had a melanoma on my thigh. Stage 1b until they found Micromets in my sentinel node….now stage 3a.  I elected for the inguinal pad of nodes to be removed and they were all clear.  With a clear PET and Micromets in sentinal….that's 3a.  I understand about your anxiety because I also had it that bad after my initial dx.  Things have calmed down but still get anxious around scan times.  Good luck with whatever else you decide to do!

Everything I'm reading on your post leads me to think you are likely 3A.  I wonder if this could be Clark Level 4?  Actual stage 4 would be mets to another part of your body from the primary.  Try to speak directly to your doctor or perhaps get another opinion/evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo or another cancer center with specialization in Melanoma.   Good luck!!

Everything I'm reading on your post leads me to think you are likely 3A.  I wonder if this could be Clark Level 4?  Actual stage 4 would be mets to another part of your body from the primary.  Try to speak directly to your doctor or perhaps get another opinion/evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo or another cancer center with specialization in Melanoma.   Good luck!!

Everything I'm reading on your post leads me to think you are likely 3A.  I wonder if this could be Clark Level 4?  Actual stage 4 would be mets to another part of your body from the primary.  Try to speak directly to your doctor or perhaps get another opinion/evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo or another cancer center with specialization in Melanoma.   Good luck!!